Head for puncturing closure disks



NOV. 27, 1934. Q N WlswELL Re. 19,387

HEAD FOR PUNCTURING CLOSURE DISKS Original Filed March 2, 1951 Vm lINVENTOR ATTORN EY Reissued Nov. 27, 1934 HEAD Foa PUNCTURING cLosUREnIsKs Ozro N. Wiswell, Losk Angeles, Calif., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to C-Two Fire Equipment Company, Newark, N. J., acorporation of Delaware Original No. 1,910,511, dated May 23, 1933,Serial No. 519,471, March 2, 1931.

Application for reissue August 7, 19.34, Serial No. 738,844

11 Claims.

This invention relatesv to fire extinguishing equipment, and relatesmore particularly to a device for puncturing the closure disk of acontainer holding a fire extinguishing medium under pressure.

In re extinguishing systems employing carbon dioxide or like iireextinguishing agents or mediums, the medium is usually contained underpressure in steel cylinders or asks. The discharge outlets of thefluid-containing cylinders are usually closed b-y penetrable closuredisks adapted to be punctured or out out to release the fluid. Dischargeheads of various types are provided on the containers for puncturing theclo- J sure disks to release the uid from the containers.

One type of discharge head in general use involves a cutter forpenetrating the penetrable closure disk and means for operating thecutter which includes a stem projecting vertically upward from the headand operable upon being depressed to actuate the cutter. The type ofdischarge head referred to is usually compara-k tively long so that itprojects a yconsiderable distance from the top of the fluid container,and the container must be` positioned so that the operating stem of thehead is readily accessible for operation or depression. In certainsituations it is sometimes desirable or necessary to position acontainer of the iire extinguishing medium adjacent or below a shelf, orthe like, Where there is insufficient space for a discharge head of thetype referred to, .or insuicient space to permit the ready actuation ofthe head.

Discharge heads for puncturing closure disks of fluid containers havebeen introduced that embody cutters operable by turning a screwthreadedstem. This screw-actuated type of discharge head must necessarily becomparatively large as the actuating stem hasl considerable longitudinalmovement and must be packed about by packing glands, or the like.Further, the screw-actuating stem has a compound movement; that is,rotary and longitudinal movement, and the means for actuating the stemmust, accordingly, be capable of a like movement.

it is a general object of the invention to pro-v vide a simple, compact,and eiTective device for puncturing the closure disk of a iiuidcontainer.

It is another object of the invention to provide a discharge head forpuncturing a closure disk that may be embodied in a comparatively shortstructure to occupy a minimum amount of vertical space at the upper endof a fluid container and that may be actuated vby a horizontal force.

It is another object of the invention to provide a discharge head of thecharacter mentioned that includes a cutter that is operable by turningor partial rotation to make a circularl cut of approximately 270 in theclosure disk so that the central portion of the disk may be bent orhinged back by the discharge of the uid to permit the free, unrestrictedoutward flow of fluid.

Another object of the invention is-to provide a discharge head of thecharacter mentioned in which the cutter is caused to puncture the diskby cam means during its rotation and moves inwardly to puncture the diskWhile turning and continues in its rotary movement to make the circularcutter.

It is another object of the invention to provide a discharge head of thecharacter mentioned that is constructed so that the operating force maybe applied in one direction, for example, in a horizontal direction, andwithout compound movement.` The device is V,such that it may be set tohave the force applied in any one of a plurality of different horizontaldirections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a discharge head forpuncturing a closure disk that is simple and inexpensive of manufactureand that isconstructed so as to be readily dissembled for inspection,etc.

Other objects and features of my invention will be best and more fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typical form andapplication of the invention, throughout which description reference ishad to the accom-k "panying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the head provided by the presentinvention, showing it arranged on the valve of a typical huid-containingcylinder; v

Fig.`2 is a vertical detailed sectional view of thev head, illustratingthe parts in the normall or unactuated position;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are transverse detailed sectional views takensubstantially as indicated by lines 3 3, 4 4, and 5 5 ron Fig. 2respectively;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the device showingthe cam means in elevation; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the cutter element embodied in the device.

-The present invention is adapted to be embodied in forms for puncturingthe closure disks of the various types of fluid containers and thevalves or ttings of various types of containers. In the drawing, I haveillustrated the head mounted on a typical cylinder lling and dischargefitting or valve 10 arranged on the upper end of a cylinder C of theclass commonly employed for containing carbon dioxide, and the like. Itis to be understood that the invention is not to be taken as limited orrestricted to the particular form or application about to be described,but that it is to be taken as including any features or modificationsthat may fall within the scope of the claims.

'Ihe cylinder valve 10 illustrated in the drawing is intended tofacilitate the lling and discharging of the cylinderC and the connectionof the discharge head with the cylinder. particular type of cylindervalve illustrated includes a body 11 having a stem 12 on its lower endthreaded into the opening in the upper end of the cylinder C. A centralvertical opening 13 is provided in the valve body 1i` to discharge fluidfrom the cylinder. 'I'he opening 13 is closed by a penetrable closuredisk 14. The closure disk 14 is held in the closing position across theopening 13 by a tubular nut 15 screw-threaded into the upper end of theopening. The cylinder valve 10 includes various other parts common todevices of this general character.

The fluid releasing device or discharge head provided by the presentinvention includes, generally, a body 16, a cutter 17 in the body forperforating the closure disk 14,`and means 18 for operating the cutter.

The body 16 of the head is adapted to bedetachably mounted on the body11 of the cylinder valve. The body 16 may be an integral member having ascrew-threaded socket 19 in its lower end for receiving a screw-threadedprojection 20v on the upper end of the cylinder valve. In accordancewith the invention, the body 16 'of the head is chambered, beingprovided with la central vertical opening or chamber 21 for housing thecutter 17 and various other parts of the device.. The upper projectingend of the tubular nut 15 is disposed within the lower end of thechamber 21. The upper end of the chamber 21. is closed, asillustrated inthe drawing. An opening 22. is provided in the walls of the body y"16.to. communicate with the chamber 21. The

lopening 22 is adapted to. receive the endv of a yiluid dischargeconduit 23... Thelower end" portion of the body 16 may be polygonal',while the upper end 24 of the body is preferably round. l

The cutter 17 is arranged within the body 16 and is provided to cut orperforate the closure disk 14 to 'release fluid from the cylinder C. Inthe particular `form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, thecutter 17 is tubu-v lar and adapted to pass fluid upwardly from theopening 13. into the chamber 21. The cutter 17 is of round cross sectionand slidably and rotatably fits the opening 25 in the nut 15. Theopening 26 in the cutter 17 extends upwardly from the lower end of thecutter and terminates at a point withinthe chamber 21. Lateral ports 28are provided in the cutter 17' to discharge fluid from the upper end ofthe opening 26 into the chamber 21. A- knife point or cuttingpart 29isprovided on they lower end of the cutter 17 to cut the closure disk14. The cutting part 29 is designed to first perforate the closure diskand then make a circular cut in the disk during rotary or turningmovement of the cutter. The cutting part 29 projects downwardly from thelower end ofthe cutter at itsperiphery to make a circular out of maximumdiameter in the disk. In the particular case illustrated.- in the.drawing, the cutter part 29 is substantially semi-cir- The cular in sideelevation. The edges of the cutting part 29 are sharpened and its innerside may be inclined downwardly and outwardly to provide it with apointed lower end. The cutter 17 is normally held in a. position wherethe cutting part 29 is spaced above the closure disk 14.

The means 18 for actuating the cutter 17 is operable to turn orpartially rotate the cutter and cause downward or inward movement of thecutter during its rotation to force the cutting part 29 through theclosure disk to make a circular cut therein. The means 18 includes means30 for turning the cutter a limited extent, and means 31 for moving thecutter downwardly during its rotation to force the cutting part 29through the closure disk 14.

In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, the means forturning or rotating the cutter 17 may be varied considerably incharacter. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated inthe drawing, the means 36 for turning or partially rotating the cutter17 may be either manually or mechanically actuated and is such that itmay be controlled o-r operated from a point remote from the dischargehead. The means 30 includes, generally, an extension or stem 32 on theupper end of the cutter 17, a drum 33 connected with the stem 32, and acable 34 wound on the drum 33. The stem 32 is in the nature of anextension on the upper end of the cutter 17 and may be integral with thecutter. The stern 32 extends through a vertical opening 35 in the body16 to project from the upper end thereof. The portion 36 of the sternprojecting from the body 16 is of polygonal cross section, for example,of square cross section, while the portion of the stem in the opening 35is round to slidably and rotatably t the opening.

. The drum 33 is provided to carry the actuating cable 34 and isconnected with the stem 32. The drum 33 may be provided with a centralboss 37 vhaving a polygonal opening 38 to slidably carry and cooperatewith the polygonal portion 36 of the stem. A bearing projection 39 maybe provided on the upper end of the body 16 to fit a socket 40. in the`lower sidel of the boss 37 to rotatably support the drum 33. An upwardlyprojecting axial ange 41 is pro-vided at the periphery of the drum tocarry the cable 34.

-Any suitable form of flexible line or cable may be employed inconnection with the drum 33. In the drawing I have illustrated astranded cable 34 wound on the iiange 41 of the drum. The cable 34 mayhave se-veral turns on the flange 41 and may have its end-attached tothe drum. 33 in any suitable manner. The cable 34 may be madesufficiently long to extend any desired disu tance from the dischargehead.

In .the preferred form of the invention, a housing is provided to coveror encase the drum 33. The drum-enclosing housing may include a bodypart 42 surrounding the periphery of the drum and having a downwardlyprojecting flange 43 surrounding the upper vportion 24 of the body.

The housing part 42 may be removably and adjustably attached to the bodyby set screws 44 having pointed inner ends extending into an annulargroove 45 in the round portion 24 of the body. A tangential opening 46is provided in the housing part 42 to pass the cable 34 from the drum. Asuitable guiding boss- 47 may be provided around'the outer end of theopening 46. A tubing or conduit 48 may be provided around the outer endof the opening 46. A tubing or conduit 48 may be provided to extendoutwardly from the boss 47 vfor encasing .and Vvguiding `the .cable 34.

'It -will be. apparent that the cable 34 'may .be -made to pass in anydesired direction from .the

drum 33 -by loosening the screws 44 and turning the housing lpart 42 tothe desired rotative position. A cover plate 49 maybepro-videdto closethe .upperend of the housing part 42.

The means 31. is vin the nature of a cam means and lisprovided to causea limited downwardV or inwardl movement of the cutter 17 -upon its beingturned or partially rotated. The cam means` 31 includes parts on theycutter 17 and the `body I16 which have cooperating camming action tocause downward movement of the cutter I7 during its rotation. In theparticular form of invention illustrated inthe drawing, the cam means 31is .Within the chamber .21 and includes an annular radial flange 50 onthe cutter 17. The upper side of the'flange 50 is spaced below the upperwall of the chamber 21. A curved cam ridge'51 isprovided on the upper.side of the flange 50. The yridge `5l is curvedy concentrically .aboutthe axis of rotation of the cutter 17 and mayextend approximately 240.around the flange. One end of .the ridge 51 .may terminate in anyabrupt or axial shoulder, while the other end` of the ridge is in theform ofa cam face 52 `whi-ch is gradually inclined downward to join theupper side of the flange 50.

The part on the body 16 for `cooperating with the cam ridge 51 may beinthe nature of a pin 53 having a rounded head projecting downwardlyfrom the upper wall of the chamber `21. 'Ihe rounded lower end ofthe pin53 is adapted to cooperate with the upper side of the cam ridge 51 andthe `upper side of the flange 50. When the parts are in the normalposition, the pin 53 engages the upper side of the flange 50 at a pointspaced from the cam face 52. Upon rotation or turning of the cutter 17in the direction for its operation, the cam face 52 is brought intoengagement with the pin 53 so that the cutter `17 -is forced downwardly.Continued turning of the cutter causes the .upper side of the cam ridgeto cooperate with the pin 53. .Upon the cam face 52 cooperating with the.pin 53, the cutting part 29 `is forced downwardly through the closuredisk .14 and the cooperation .between the .pin .53 and the upper side ofthe ridge 51 maintains the cutting ypart 29 in its down position whereit makes a .circular cut in the closure disk.

The invention provides means for normally 'holding the cutter 17 in aposition where the flange 50 is in co-operative engagement withthe pin53 and where the cuttingpart .29 is spaced above the closed disk 14. Acam projection or ridge 54 is provided in lthe lower side of the flange50. The cam ridge 54 may be similar to the ridge 51 and may :have aninclined yend or cam face 55 at one end. 'The other end of the ridge 54may be substantially radial. 'The opposite ends of the cam ridge 54 maybe in axial alignment with the oppositeends of the ridge '51 so thatthecam faces 52 and 55 are parallel. A bolt 'or screw 56 may .be threadedthroughan opening 57 in the body 16 to have its innerend project intothe chamber 2l. 'Ihe projecting inner end of the screw iisintended tocooperate with the lower side of the ilange 50 and cam ridge 54. The camridges 5l and 54 are related so that the screw 56 engages the upper sideof the ridge 54 at a point adjacent its abrupt end, while the pin 53engages the upper side of the flange 50 at a point spaced from the camface 52 and adjacent the abrupt end of the ridge 5l. .Upon turning of.thecutter'1'7, caused byunwinding of the cable y3.4 from the drum30,:the cutter A.is turned for v52 andf53 so that the cutter is forceddownwardly.

Further turning of .the cutter does not cause its longitudinalmovement,.as the pin 53 lrides over theflat'upper end of the cam face. 51.Turning of the cutter is llimited'by the .engagement `of the `axial endof the cam ridge 54 with the screw 56. The cam means 31 operates to givethe cutter limited downward movement during its turning and to limit itsturning motion.

It is to be understood that the location and character .of the cam meansfor moving the .cutter 17 downwardly to cut the closure .disk may bevaried considerably without .departing from the broader featuresof theinvention. It is readily apparent that the cam means may be -embodied inIthe construction at a point exterior of the `chamber 21. Further, thecam parts proper might well be provided on the body 16, or otherstationary part, to be cooperated with by parts on the cutter assembly.In view of these obvious variations inthe means for moving the cutterdownward, the invention is not to be considered as restricted to vthespecific cam means 31 described above.

It is believed that theutility and practicability of the discharge headprovided by the present invention will be readily apparent from theforegoing detailed description. The parts are normally positioned asillustrated throughout the drawing with the cam pin v53 retained inengagement with the upper side of the fiange 50 by the screw 56 engagingthe lower side of the cam ridge `54. Upon the cable 34 beingactuated orunwound from the drum 30, the cutter 17 is turned in a direction tobring the camy face 32 into engagement with :the pin 53 Yand the'screw56 into engagement with the cam face 55.' During this preliminarymovement of the cutter 17, the cutting part 29 remains spaced above thesealing disk 14. Engagement of the cam face '52 with the pin 53 causesthe cutter to be abruptly or rapidly shifted downwardly so that thecutting part 29 is forced through the sealing disk 14. During furtherturning of the cutter, the upper end ofthe cam ridge v51 vrides along orcooperates Iwith the pin 53 so that the cutting part 29 .is maintainedin its down position to make a circular cut in the closure disk. Turningofthe cutter 17 is stopped or limited by the straight end of the lowercam ridge l53'which comes into engagement with the -screw 56 to preventthe central part of the disk 14 from vbeing completely cut out. Upon theclosure-diskl4 being cut by the cutting part 29 in the manner describedabove, the fiuid under pressure contained lwithin the cylinder C forcesor bends the central portion of the disk 14 outwardlyso that it hingesbetween the opposite ends of the cut made by the part v29. This centralportion of the closure disk is forced outwardly by the uid pressure tolie -againstthe walls of the opening 26 so that vthe fluid may freelydischarge outwardly intothe chamber 21 and discharge conduit 23.

It is to be noted that during the actuation of the device the cutter 17moves downwardly relative to the drum 33 and that there is nolongitudinal or vertical movement of the drum. The head may be quicklydissembled for inspection as the body 16 may be removed from the housing64 by loosening the set screws 44. The stem 32 is freeto slidedownwardly out of the opening 33 iis upon the body 16 being removed. Thebody 16 may be easily removed from the cylinder valve by unthreading itfrom the threaded projection 20. The housing part 42 may be set in anydesired rotative position to permit the cable 34 to extend tangentiallyfrom the drum 33 in any desired direction. The cam faces 52 and 55 maybe formed so that the` cutting part 29 is rapidly forced downwardlythrough the closure disk during operation of the head. The assembly isparticularly compact and occupies but little vertical space at the upperend of the container. The cable 34 may be actuated in any suitablemanner, either manually or mechanically, and the head is adapted for usein systems involving a plurality of interconnected units or in aninstallation involving a single fluid container.

Having described only a typical preferred form of my invention, I do notwish to limit myself to the specific details set forth, but wish toreserve to myself any changes or variations thatmay appear to thoseskilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A releasing device for use in connection with a uid container havingan opening and a closure for the opening which comprises a cutteroperable to cut the closure, and means for operating the cutterincluding,fmeans operable from a pointremote from the device for turningthe cutter, and cam means for shifting the cutter longitudinally alimited distance to puncture the closure and for holding it againstfurther longitudinal movementduring turning. Y

2. A releasing device for use in connection with a fluid containerhaving an opening and a closure for the opening which includes, a bodyadapted to be applied to the container, a cutter in the body forpuncturing the closure, and means for operating the cutter includingmeans at the exterior of the body for turning the cutter, and cam meansin the body for moving the cutter longitudinally during its turning topuncture the closure and for preventing continued longitudinal movementof the cutter after the closure is punctured during continued turning.

3. A releasing device for use in connection with a fluid containerhaving an opening and a closure for the opening which comprises a cutteroperable to cut the closure, means for turning the cutter and for movingthe cutter longitudinally to puncture the closure during a portion ofits turning movement and for continuing turning of the cutter afterpuncturing of the closure without further longitudinal movement of thecutter, and means for limiting the turning movement of the cutter sothat it makes a circular cut in the closure of less than 360.

4. A releasing device for use in connection with a fluid containerhaving an opening and a closure for the opening which includes twoelements, one a stationary body, the other a movable cutter forpuncturing and cutting the closure, and means for operating the cutterincluding means Yfor turning the cutter, means for moving the cutterlongitudinally during the first portion only of its turning to cut intothe closure, the last mentioned means including a cam part on oneelement for cooperating with a part on the other element and means forlimiting the turning movement of the cutter to cut less than 360 aroundthe closure.

5. A releasing device for use in connection with Y to out the closure,and means for operating the closure, there being a sliding connectionbetween i.

the means for turning the cutter andthe cutter.

6. A releasing device for use in connection l with a fluid containerhaving an opening and a closure for the opening which comprises a cutteroperable to cut the closure, and means for operating the cutterincludingmeans for turning the cutter, moving the cutter longitudinallyto pierce the closure during its turning, and for continuing turning ofthe cutter without further longitudinal movement, comprising a drummounted for rotation in a xed plane and carrying an operating line, andan operating connection between the drum and cutter through which thecutter is turned from the drum and may shift longitudinally relative tothe drum.

'7. A device for releasing fluid from a container having an opening anda closure for the opening including a cutter, means for turning theycutter about its longitudinal axis, and cam means 0perated by turningthe cutter to initially move the cutter longitudinally during acomparatively small part of the turning motion of the cutter to piercethe closure and to thereafter hold the cutter against furtherlongitudinal movement.

8. A device for releasing fluid from a container i discharge opening forthe chamber, a cutter in the Y body for puncturing the closure, andmeans for operating the cutter including a drum rotatable on the bodyfor turning the cutter, a flexible line engaged around the drum andhaving one end extending to a point remote from the body, and means inthe body for moving the cutter longitudinally during the initial portionof its turning movement to pierce the closure and for holding the cutteragainst longitudinal movement during the remainder of the turningmovement.

9. A releasing device for use in connection with a fluid containerhaving an opening and a closure for the opening which comprises a cutteroperable to cut the closure, and means for advancing and turning thecutter to bring the cutter into engagement with the closure and make anarcuate cut in the closure, the cutting edge of the cutter subtending atan angle of considerably less than 360 degrees as measured along thecut, and a stop for limiting operation of the cutter after it has made acut in the closure of more than 180 but substantially less than 360degrees.

10. A releasing device for a fluid container having an opening and aclosure for the opening, which comprises a cutter operable to cut a apout of the closure, said cutter consisting of a tubular member formed atone end with a cutting edge of considerably less than 360 degrees inextent, means for advancing the cutter longitudinally into'cuttingengagement with theclosure and for turning the cutter during suchengagement to make an arcuate cut in the closure, and a stop limitingthe turning of the cutter to limit the cut to less than 360 degrees inextent and leavliu ing an uncut portion of a size suicient to serve as ahinge for said flap.

1l. A releasing device for a fluid container having an opening and aclosure for the opening, which comprises a body adapted to be applied tothe container, a cutter rotatable in the body to thereof into cuttingengagement with the closure, and a stop limiting the turning of thecutter to limit said cut to less than 360 degrees in extent and leavingan uncut portion of a size sucient to serve as a hinge for said flap.

OZRO N. WISWELL.

